Cruising to La Romana Dominican Republic

I understand! Glad you shared your story with me when you got back on the ship. You made me very happy we didn't go on that last minute shore tour.

For the reat of you! Yes, we met each other on the ship. And again in the airport!

Next time we will just stay on the ship!! Lol

We did!

Going to either Catalina Isle or Saona Isle are both beautiful. The snorkeling is really good. Yes Aunt Pinkie armed guards are everywhere. When you go to the bank there is an armed guard. However, when you sail to the Caribbean so many of the islands are the same. Poverty is everywhere. Hurricanes have not hit this area but COVID has. Many things are still restricted. Not sure if they have removed the serving of alcohol on the beach areas which included the Isles. Staying on board is always an option at any port. In this time of COVID many people are chosing this option. Whatever you do enjoy your cruise.

No thanks. "well patrolled...mountainous", errrr...."pacified" was the term in my day. Been there done that...complete contradiction in terms...but it sounds good doesn't it? I feel no need whatsoever to wander thru yet another "upscale straw market" specifically designed to sell junque to norteamericano touristas...and their Yanqui dollares.....almost everybody's "port area" can lay claim to that...getting back into the countryside...well....it sure isn't French wine country is it???

Actually we enjoyed our recent stop at La Romana. They have built up the area at the port and it’s like an upscale straw market. While we didn’t go on an excursion, friends took the train (ship sponsored) that toured the town. They said that they had armed police guards shadowing them. It was not as reassuring as they hoped. Also, that border is very strictly enforced. Still advise anyone stopping here to go on a ship sponsored shore tour if they want to go farther than the port area.

I guess any more than Mexico. However, the border is well patrolled and that area is very mountainous. LaRomana is very far from the border

The border is a line on a map...somehow I don't think the local gangs pay any attention to it...

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share an island but they are not the same country.

We were there twice. The first time we did a tour provided by the ship called the Altos de Chavon. It is basically a Mediterranean style village setup. It was ok to visit once. The second time we simply did the bit of tourist shopping offered straight off the ship- an enclosed area. If we had to go there again I do not know if we would even get off the ship.